New Position Hired for Barnegat Clerk's Office

The Township Committee last night approved a resolution authorizing the appointment of an administrative assistant for the Municipal Clerk's office, despite a motion by the Republican members of the committee to remove the resolution.

Martin Lisella said that Martin Kostecki - who  who is being hired to the position - served as the treasurer for the campaign that financed committee newcomers' Democrats Elaine Taylor and Susan Conway campaign.  

He said the clerk's office has access to much confidential information, and it was too important to have a "political operative in a selective position." He then asked Conway and Taylor abstain from voting on the resolution, but they did not, as Township Attorney Kevin Starkey advised neither Conway nor Taylor had a conflict of interest in the vote.

Conway responded that the: "clerk's office has been running understaffed for years. It is not an expensive position ... and they do need an additional staff members."

Mayor Len Morano - also a Democrat - noted "it is not Dave's assistant, my personal belief is it should have said 'clerk typist'," he said, instead of an administrative assistant. 

The job pays $33,400, according to Township Administrator David Breeden, and Kostecki is waiving benefits, according to both Conway and Taylor.